Raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) were
conducted in the office and residences of former Champua MLA and
mine owner Jitu Patnaik at Joda and Bhubaneswar on Wednesday in
connection with a money laundering case.
Some influential BJD leaders, who are said to be in partnership with
Patnaik in mining business, are also alleged to be involved in money
laundering case.
However, details of the findings of the raids were yet to be
ascertained as the searches were still going on. Sources said machines
were used to count the cash recovered from Patnaik's house at Joda.
Patnaik, who was elected to the State Assembly as an Independent
candidate, later joined the BJD and managed to be in the good book
of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. He had been appointed as the BJD
election observer for the Bijepur Assembly constituency when a by-
election was held there.
